Branding-chute.



No. 693,798. Patented Feb. I8, I902.

, J. HONEYCUTT.

BR'IUHJINGv CHUTE. (Application filed Sept. 26, 1901.)

2 Sheets-Sheet I.

(No Model.)

Alfamc vj THE NORRIS virus 00., more-Luke, wnsumawu. cv c,

No. 693,798. Patented Feb. l8, I902."

J. nomavcun.

BRANDING CHUTE.

(Application filed Sept. 26, 1901.) (No Model.) 2 Sheets8haet 2.

1 AWE/v70]? WITNESSES.-

"m: "cams Pains pd. vnorauma, Msuwarcn, o ev litre TATES ATENT OFFICE.

JOHN HONEYOUTT, 'OF ALBANY, TEXAS.

BRANDlNG-CHUTE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 693,798, dated February 18, 1902. Application filed September 26. 1901. Serial No, 76,682. (No model.)

To all whunt it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, JOHN HONEYCUTT, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Albany, in the county of Shackelford and State of Texas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Branding-Chutes, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to certain new and usefulimprovements in branding-chutes, and relates particularly to that class having a movable side and a stationary side, the former being adapted to be actuated after the animal is within the chute, so as to be closed against and hold the animal until the branding is completed.

My invention aims to provide a device of this character with means for easily and rapidly operating the movable side of the chute, so as to close it against the animal or to release the latter from the chute, to provide means whereby ready access may be had to the chute from either side, so that the branding may be easily performed, 'to provide means whereby the movable side will be automatically returned to its normal position when released, to provide means for closing the space between the corner-post of the chute and the movable side wall when the latter is closed against the animal, and generally to construct a chute of this character that will be extremely simplein its construction, durable, and highly efficient for the purpose.

The invention consists in the novel construction, combination, and arrangement, as will be hereinafter more particularly described and then specifically pointed out in the claim, and in describing the invention in detail reference will be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this speciiication, wherein like numerals of reference indicate like parts throughout the several views, and in which- Figure 1 is an end view of my improved branding-chute. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal elevation thereof. Fig. 3 is a transverse vertical sectional view of the two side walls partly broken away.

A branding-chute constructed in accordance with my invention for practical purposes has been found most desirable when of a length about twenty-two feet and height of about seven feet. In the construction I employ two posts 1 at'each end of the chute of substantial dimensions, usually being about four-inch by six-inch timber ten feet long, with three feet set in ground to make stationary. These posts are set in the ground at an angle, the chute being substantially wedge shape, being widest at the top. One side of the chute is stationary, while the other side is movable, being termed the drop side. The stationaryside of the chute has a post 2, substantially of the same length and dimensions as the two end posts on that side, set midway between them, and to this post 2 and the end posts on the stationary side of the chute is affixed the side rails of the stationary side of the chute. Set in line with these three posts--that is, with the two posts 1 on the stationary side of the chute and the post 2-are three posts 3 of the same length as the two posts 1 and post 2, though they may be of less dimensions, and are set three feet into the ground, so'as to make same rigid. The end posts 3 and the end posts 1 at each end of the chute are connected together by cross bars 4, securely bolted or otherwise fastened thereto near the top of the posts.

The drop side of the chute is arranged be. tween the two end posts at one side of the chute, and this drop side comprises three posts or standards 5, to the one of which that is adjacent to the open end of the chute is attached a triangular strip 6, which is adapted to close the space that would otherwise be between the post to which it is attached and the end post 1 adjacent thereto when the drop side of the chute is moved toward the stationary side.

Attached to the posts or standards 5 are three side rails 7, spaced some distance apart, and near the bottom of these posts is attached two side rails 8, located close together, with the lowermost one some distance from the ground, however. The space between the uppermost side rail 8 and the lowermost side rail 7 is greater than the space between the side rails 7, and this space 9 is so located as to be where the branding-irons are inserted through the side ofthe chute. In order that-this space may not be too great and yet afford sufficient room for the handling of the branding-irons, I partially close the space by means of iron rods 10, (or iron pipe may be employed for this purpose,) the rods or pipe being secured to the inner face of the posts by ends or keepers 11.

The movable or drop side of the chute is pivoted by means of straps l2 14, the former connecting the two end posts 5 to the posts 1 1 at the stationary side of the chute and the latter straps connecting the central post 5 to the post 2. These straps may be rigidly bolted to the posts 1 1 and post 2 and pivotally connected to the posts 5 in order that the drop side of the chute will be free to be actuated. The side rails of the stationary side of the chute are identical with those of the drop side except as to length, of course, and the same reference-numerals have been applied thereto.

A short brace-bar is bolted or otherwise rig idly fastened to the central post 3 and to the post 2 near the top'of these posts, and to the posts 3 on the short brace-bar 15 and on one of the cross-bars 4 are attached keepers or bearings 16, in which is journaled a shaft 17, havinga hand-wheel 18 on one end. Adjacent to the hand-wheel18 on the shaft 17 is a ratchet-wheel 19, which is engaged by a pawl 20, pivoted to the adjacent cross-bar 4. This shaft will be held against longitudinal movement in the one direction by the ratchetwheel 19 and may be held against like movement in the other direction by means of a washer 21 on the opposite end of the shaft, held thereon by a pin 22. Connected to this shaft 17 just inside of the two end posts 3 are cords or chains or cables 23, which pass over the top of the stationary side of the chute and have their other ends connected to the movable or drop side of said chute, preferably being passed through the two end posts 5 in order that the pull may be directly upon these posts and not upon the top side rail 7. Also connected to this shaft 17 is a like cord, cable, or chain 24, which is passed through the top rail 7 on the movable side of, the chute, through the center post 5, and through a post 25, rigidly set in the ground somedistance back of the center post 5. This post 25 is set at an angle and has mounted therein near its top a pulley 26, over which the cord, cable, or chain 24 passes, the said cord, cable, or chain 24 having a Weight 27 attached to its freeend.

The chute at the one end is closed by a door 28, wedge shape in form to conform to the chute, which is suitably hinged to the two posts 1 on the movable or drop side of the chute and may be fastened by a chain 29, having a hook 230 to engage in. an eye 31, carried by one of the posts 1, orin any other suitable manner. This door being closed when the animal is driven into the chute is adapted to be opened after the branding of the animal to permit the latter to pass on through the chute when released by the drop side.

When the animal is driven into the chute, the drop side is actuated so as to close the same toward the stationary side, as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 1, and when the drop side is thus moved up, the triangular piece 6, carried by the post 5 at the open end of the chute, will close the space that would be between this post 5 and the post 1 at the open end of the chute, so as to prevent any of the animals that may be following toward the open end of the chute passing through this open space. When the animal is within the chute, the drop side is actuated by means of the shaft 17, the cords, chains, or cables winding thereon when operated and the pawl engaging the ratchet to hold the drop side to the position to which it has been moved. When this pawl is released from engagement with the ratchet, the weight 27 will serve to return the drop side to its normal position.

In order to keep the cattle from backing out of the chute after being driven therein, I employ a suitable draw-bar 32, usually placed about two and one-half feet from the ground and preferably inserted through apertures in the top side rail 8, being ofsufficientlength that it may be easily operated from either side of the chute. The movable or drop side of the chute is preferably constructed longer at the bottom than at the top, as 'shown, giving the same free movement when actuated.

While I have described the construction in detail, it will be evident that in practicing the invention various changes may be made in the details of construction without departing from the general spirit of my invention.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

In a branding-chute, a stationary inclined side wall comprising posts having side rails secured thereto, a drop side wall comprising posts and side rails, said drop-wall tapering upwardly, straps pivotally secured to the end posts of the drop side wall and the end posts of the stationary wall, stationary vertical uprights in alinement with the posts of said stationary side wall and located away therefrom, cross-bars rigidly secured to each of said posts of the stationary inclined side wall and to each of said vertical uprights at their upper ends, a shaft journaled to the rear faces of said vertical upright-s carrying a handwheel and a ratchet, a pawl carried by one of said cross-bars for engagement with said ratchet,an inclined stationary upright located adjacent to but away from said drop-wall with a pulley mounted in its upper end, a cord connected to said shaft and passing through said side wall to which it is rigidly secured, said cord passing over the pulley in said inclined upright and having a weight connected In testimony whereof I affix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

JOHN HONEYCUTT.

\Vitnesses:

THOMAS L. BLANTON, D. O. CAMPBELL. 

